School Counselor Pay

Clinton vs Salt Lake City: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between Clinton, UT and Salt Lake City, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Clinton, UT
$56,634
$27.23/hr
Salt Lake City, UT
$61,245
$29.44/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricClinton, UTSalt Lake City, UT
Median Salary$56,634$61,245
Hourly Rate$27.23$29.44
Entry Level (P10)$43,224$35,753
25th Percentile$46,889$48,834
75th Percentile$71,986$92,479
Top Earner (P90)$87,782$104,889
Total Employed41,430
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Clinton ($56,634) and Salt Lake City ($61,245) school counselor salaries.ClintonSalt Lake CityMedian Salary$56,634$61,245Entry Level (P10)$43,224$35,753Top Earner (P90)$87,782$104,889US Median $64,335

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Clinton.

The salary gap between Clinton and Salt Lake City is $4,611 (8.14%). Salt Lake City's median is -4.80% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Clinton spans $44,558,Salt Lake City spans $69,136. Salt Lake City has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced school counselors.

Clinton
P10 (Entry)$43,224
P25$46,889
Median$56,634
P75$71,986
P90 (Top)$87,782
Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$35,753
P25$48,834
Median$61,245
P75$92,479
P90 (Top)$104,889

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salt Lake City ($60,718 effective) pays 5.17% more than Clinton ($57,731 effective).

Clinton
Nominal: $56,634
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $57,731
Salt Lake City
Nominal: $61,245
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $60,718

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Clinton if…

  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($61,245/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($104,889)
  • Larger job market (1,430 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $60,718)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in Clinton grew 2.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 29.4% growth in Salt Lake City over the same period.

Clinton, UT

+2.0%

$54,428 (2024) → $55,496 (2025)

Salt Lake City, UT

+29.4%

$46,390 (2019) → $60,015 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: Clinton or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a higher median school counselor salary at $61,245/year, compared to Clinton at $56,634/year — a difference of $4,611 (8.14%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Clinton and Salt Lake City?

Clinton school counselors earn $27.23/hr while Salt Lake City hygienists earn $29.44/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Clinton to Salt Lake City as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Clinton and Salt Lake City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Clinton = $57,731, Salt Lake City = $60,718), job availability (4 vs 1,430 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in Clinton vs Salt Lake City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $43,224 in Clinton and $35,753 in Salt Lake City. The Clinton area offers higher starting salaries.
MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed.

Content Lead

Maria has over 10 years of experience in school counseling. She specializes in academic and emotional support for high school students. She works at a public high school in California.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, M.A.Data verified by Linda Chen, LPC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 2.05% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed., a licensed school counselor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov